Multiple position reclining chair



Nov. 28, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1959 INVENTOR. FQ/DTJOF A 60 /4 IEPf/ACX E FIG.2. BY

M vx/p Nov. 28, 1961 F. F. SCHLIEPHACKE 3,010,762

MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Filed Nov. 17, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5.

INVENTOR. 4 FR/DZ/OF F SCHL/EPHAC/(E' 4 1-7-0 QA Er's United States Patent Ofihce 3,010,762 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,762 MULTIPLE POSITION RECLINING CHAIR Fridtjof F. Schliephacke, Berlin-Schmargendorf, Germany, assignor to Anton Lorenz Filed Nov. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 853,610 Claims. (Cl. 297-88) The present invention relates to improvements in multiple position reclining chairs, and has particular relation to novel and improved control means for producing the multiple position movement in chairs of this type.

Multiple position chairs are characterized by their ability to be brought to various tilted body-supporting positions with the leg-rest properly extended. Typical of the multiple position type of chair is the so-called twoposition chair which has a rigid seat and back-rest unit mounted on a support frame for rearward movement through a first motion phase from a sitting position to an intermediate tilted position, and then through a second motion phase to a fully tilted position. A leg-rest is also included in the chair structure and is provided with actuating means adapted to move the leg-rest from a retracted position beneath the seat to an extended, leg-supporting position forwardly of the seat in response to movement of the body-supporting unit during the first motion phase from the sitting position to the intermediate tilted position. When the body-supporting unit is then brought to its fully-tilted position, the leg-rest actuating means is adapted to maintain the leg-rest extended in proper legsupporting position.

The intermediate position of the body-supporting unit is a slightly-tilted active position with the occupants body in a substantially upright attitude suitable for viewing television, talking, reading or the like. In such position, the leg-rest has already moved to an extended position for supporting the occupants legs. The body-supporting unit can then, When desired, be tilted further to an inactive fully-tilted position in which the occupants body is supported in a more supine or recumbent position for greater relaxation, and with the leg-rest still extended in position to support the outstretched legs of the chair occupant. 7

An object of the present invention is the provision of novel and improved control means for multiple-position reclining chairs in which a single carrier member and a front guide link are employed at the forward end of the seat for providing the two-position movement.

Another object of the invention is the provision of control means for multiple-position chairs which produces an effective and eflicient two-position movement wherein the center of rotation of the body-supporting unit shifts from a pair of guide links providing a compound movement, to a single pivot at the rear of the chair providing a simple pivoting movement.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of improved leg-rest control means adapted to automatically adjust the level to which the leg-rest is brought, so that in the final movement of the unit to the fuily-tilted position, the leg-rest is lowered from a maximum height to a proper leg-supporting level relative to the forward end of the seat.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a body-supporting unit mounted on two guide links for rearward movement to an intermediate tilted position. The front guide link is mounted on a carrier link, the forward end of which is pivotally mounted on the support frame, so that when the rear guide link is blocked at the intermediate tilted position, the carrier link is raised about its pivotal mount by the front guide link, permitting the body-supporting unit to turn about its pivotal connection with the blocked rear guide link. In addition, a control link is provided to raise the leg-rest to an extended 2 position, the control link having a sliding engagement with the carrier link so as to provide the downward compensating movement of the leg-rest in the final stages of movement of the body-supporting unit.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following specification when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a reclining chair incorporating control means made in accordance with theinveution, the chair being shown in an upright sitting position, and the le'grest thereof being shown in a retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the chair in its intermediate tilted position with the leg-rest extendedto a leg-supporting position;

FIG. 3 is a similar side elevational view showing the chair parts in a transitory position between the intermediate and fully-tilted positions; and

FIG. 4 is a similar side elevational view showing the chair in its fully-tilted position.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the reclining chair shown therein comprises a base or support frame designated generally by the reference numeral 10 and having spaced side walls 12 interconnected by cross bars or braces 14 and 16. The chair also includes a bodysupporting unit designated generally by the reference numeral 18 and comprising a seat 20 and a back-rest 22 formed rigidly with-each other. The body-supporting unit 18 is movably mounted on the support frame 10 for movement relative thereto from the upright sitting position of FIG. 1 to the active intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, and then t-oan inactive fully-tilted position shown in FIG. 4. The mounting of the bodysupporting unit 18 on the support frame 10 is accomplished by a pair of guide links 24 and 26.

The chair also includes a carrier member or support bar 30, the forward end of .which is mounted by a pivot 32 on the support frame 10. The rear end of said carrier member 30 is connected by pivot 34 to the lower end of the front guide link 24. The upper end of the front guide link 24 is connected by pivot 36 to the seat 20. The rear guide link 26 is mounted at its lower end on the support frame 10 by pivot 38, and at its upper end is connected by pivot 40 to the rear portion of the seat 20.

In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 1, the seat rests upon and is supported by the cross bar 16. The carrier member 30 is in a substantially horizontal position, resting upon the front cross bar 14.

The chair also includes a leg-rest 46 which has a rigidly-connected extension bar 48 mounted by pivot 50 on the front end portion of the seat 20, forwardly of the pivot 36. A leg-rest control link 52 is connected by pivot 54 to the leg-rest extension bar 48 at a point spaced beneath the pivotal mount 50 of said extension bar. The lower end of said control link 52 carries a pin 56 which extends into a longitudinal slot 58 in the carrier member 30.

In the upright sitting position of the chair shown in FIG. 1, the carrier member 30 rests upon the front cross bar 14, the latter preventing said carrier member 30 from pivoting downwardly. The rear guide link 26 is in an upright position and the front guide link 24 is forwardly inclined. The leg-rest 46 is in a retracted vertical position extending downwardly beneath the forward end of the seat 20. The pin 56, carried by the control link 52, is located at the rear of slot 58.

When the occupant of the chair exerts rearward pressure against the back-rest 22, the guide links 24 and 26 than the rear guide link 26 and is forwardly inclined,

the upper end of the front guide link moving upwardly and rearwardly 'to raise the forward portion of the seat 20, while the upper end of rear guide link 26 turns downwardly to lower the rear portion of said seat. The seat 20 is therefore lifted above the cross-bar 16 and is moved rearwardly and tiltedrearwardly.

It will be appreciated that during the first phase of motion of the body-supporting unit from the sitting posi-;

tion of FIG. 1 to the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the carrier member 30 remains stationary, resting upon the cross bar 14, and thus in effect serves as a fixed portion of the support frame 'The pivotal mount 34 of the front'guide link 24 is therefore a fixed pivot, during this first motion phase, for the rearward turning movement of said front guide link 24.

The intermediate tilted'position of FIG. 2 is determined by engagement of the rear guide link 26 with a stop member 60 immovably mounted on the support frame 10, the stop member 60 preventing further rearward turning movement of the guide links 24 and 26 relative to the support frame.

As the forward end portion of the seat 26 moves rearwardly, it carries with it the pivotal mount 50 of the leg-rest extension bar 48. The pivot 50 thus moves rearwardly of the pivotal connection 54 of the leg-rest .con-

'trol link 52, and said control link 52, held by the stationary carrier member 30, restrains rearward movement of the leg-rest extension bar at point 54. The leg-rest 46, therefore, turns around the fixed pivot 54 and is raised to'its extended position of FIG. 2, wherein it is positioned to support the legs of the chair occupant.

It will be observed that in the active or intermediate tilted position' of FIG. 2, the body-supporting unit 18 is only slightly tilted and the occupants body is supported in a substantially upright attitude suitable for reading, viewing television, or the like. At the same time the leg-rest 46 is sufiiciently extended to properly support the outstretched legs of the occupant.

Since the guide links 24 and 26 are blocked from further rearward movement in the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2, the only fu t er rearward movement of the body-supporting unit 18 is now limited to turning movement about the pivotal connection 40 with the rear guide link 26. To bring the body-supporting unit 18 from the intermediate tilted position to the fully tilted position, therefore, the occupant applies further rearward pressure against the back-rest 22. The rearward shift of the occupants weight changes the center of gravity of the body-supporting unit, and causes the latter to turn about the pivot 40 which is now held in a fixed position by engagement of the rear guide link 26 with the Stop 60.

In travelling through the second phase of motion to the'fully-tilted position of FIG. 4, the body-supporting unit passes through the position shown in FIG. 3. This position of FIG. 3 is merely a transitory position between the intermediate and fully-tilted position, and is included herein to show the movement of the linkage parts during the second motion phase.

V As the body-supporting unit 18 turns about the pivot 40, its front end portion'is' raised relative to the support frame carrying upwardly and rearwardly with it the leg-rest 46 and the link 24. As the front guide link 24 is lifted with the seat, it raises carrier link 30 upwardly from the cross-bar 14, as shown in FIG. 3.- As the leg-rest 46 moves rearwardly with the seat relative to the carrier link 30, the leg-rest control link 52 pushes upwardly on the leg-rest extension bar 48 at pivot 54, causing the leg-rest 46 to pivot further upwardly relative. to the seat about pivot 50. At the same time, the pin 56 on the lower end of link 52 begins to move for- 4 wardly in the slot 58, moving through the position indicated at A in FIG. 3.

When the body-supporting unit 22 reaches its fullytilted position of FIG. 4, the link 24 has lifted the rear end of the carrier link 30 to such an extent that the two links 22 and 30 are in a substantially aligned position, extending upwardly and slightly rearwardly from the fixed pivot 32. At this point, the pin 56 has moved completely across slot 58, being located in the position marked A in FIG. 4 at the forward end of said slot 58. This downward movement of pin 56 in slot 58 lowers the leg-rest 46somewhat. through control link 52, so that in the fully-tilted position of FIG, 4, the legr-est 46 is at a lower level relative to the frontof the seat 2% than it was in the transitory position of FIG. 3. It will thus be apparent that the leg-rest 46, during the second motion phase, is first raised to a maximum level relative to the seat and then lowered slightly, so that in the fully-tilted position of FIG. '4 it is positioned to comfortably support'the legs of the occupant. The points marked A, A, A and A in FIG. 4 indicate the travel of the pin 55 during the rearward movement. The point A is the position of pin 56 in FIGS. 1 and 2, the point A the position of pin 56 in the transitory position of FIG. 3, the point A the location of pin 56 in a further transitory position, and the point A the final position of said pin in the fully-tilted position of FIG. 4. It will be observed that these points A, A, A and A' describe an elliptical path rather than the circular path which would be described if the pin 56 were fixed to the carrier link 30. This elliptical path of the pin 56 provides the compensation for the leg-rest level relative to the seat in the fuHy-tilted position.

To return from the fully-tilted position to the intermediate position, it is only'necessary for the occupant to shift his weight forwardly, thereby moving forward the center of gravity of the body su pporting unit 18 and causing the latter to turn forwardly about the pivot 40, and the carrier link 30 to turn downwardly about the pivot 32 until the body-supporting unit again reaches the intermediate tilted position of FIG. 2. During this re-. turn movement, the pin 56 slides rearwardly in slot 58. To return from the inteimediate tilted position to the upright sitting position the occupant need merely apply downward pressure on the leg-rest 46, thispressure causing the body-supporting unit 18 to move forwardly on the guide links 24 and 26. V V

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that numerous additions, changes and omissions may be made therein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, and means mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame for movement through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and then through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a fully-tilted position, said mounting means including a carrier member pivotally mounted on'the support frame, said carrier member extending substantially horizontally from its pivotal mount in the upright sitting position of said chair and resting immovably upon a fixed portion of the support frame, a front guide link connected at its upper end to the forward portion of said seat and at its lower end to the member in the intermediate tilted position to halt further rearward movement of the body-supporting unit in the first motion phase, the body-supporting unit tilting rearwardly in the second motion phase about the rear guide member, and the front gu-ide link raising said carrier member from its horizontal position as the front portion of the seat is raised above the pivotal mount of said carrier member during said second motion phase.

2. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, and means mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame for movement through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and then through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a fully-tilted position, said mounting means including a carrier member pivotally mounted on the support frame, said carrier member extending substantially horizontally from its pivotal mount in the upright sitting position of said chair and resting immovably upon a fixed portion of the support frame, a front guide link connected at its upper end to the forward portion of said seat and at its lower end to the free end portion of the carrier member, a rear guide link connected at its upper end to the rear end portion of the body-supporting unit and pivotally mounted at its lower end on the support frame, the two guide links pivoting rearwardly during said first motion phase to guide said body-supporting unit to its intermediate tilted position, and stop means on the support frame engaging the rear guide link in the intermediate tilted position to halt further rearward movement of the guide links in the first motion phase, the body-supporting unit tilting rear- Wardly in the second motion phase about its pivotal connection with the rear guide link, and the front guide link raising said carrier member from its horizontal position as the front port-ion of the seat is raised above the pivotal mount of said carrier member during said second motion phase.

3. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, and means mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame for movement through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and then through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a fully-tilted position, said mounting means including a carrier member pivotally mounted at its forward end on the support frame, said carrier member extending rearwardly from its pivotal mount in the upright sitting position of said chair and resting immovably upon a fixed portion of the support frame, a front guide link connected at its upper end to the forward portion of said seat and at its lower end to the rear end portion of the carrier member, a rear guide link connected at its upper end to the rear end portion of the body-supporting unit and pivotally mounted at its lower end on the support frame, both of said guide links pivoting rearwardly during said first motion phase to guide said bodysupporting unit to its intermediate tilted position, and stop means on the support frame engaging the rear guide link in the intermediate tilted position to halt further rearward movement of the guide links in. the first motion phase, the body-supporting unit tilting rearwardly in the second motion phase about its pivotal connection with the rear guide link, and the front guide link raising said carrier member from said fixed portion of the support frame to an upstanding position as the front portion of the seat is raised during said second motion phase."

4. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, and means mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame for movement through a first motion phase from an up right sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and ably upon a fixed portion of the support frame, a front 7 6 then through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a fully-tilted position, said mounting means including a carrier member pivotally mounted at its forward end on the support frame, said carrier member extending rearwardly from its pivotal mount in the upright sitting position of said chair and resting immovguide link connected at its upper end to the forward portion of said seat and depending therefrom, the front guide link being mounted at its lower end to the rear end portion of the carrier member, a stop member rigid with said support frame and supporting said carrier member in a substantially horizontal position, whereby to provide a fixed pivotal mount for said front guide link during said first motion phase, a rear guide link connected at its upper end to the rear end portion of the body-supporting unit and pivotally mounted at its lower end on the support frame, the front and rear guide links pivoting rearwardly about their respective pivotal mounts during said first motion phase to guide said body-supporting unit to its intermediate tilted position, and stop means on the support frame engaging the rear guide link in the intermediate tilted position to halt further rearward movement of the guide links in the first motion phase, the body-supporting unit tilting rearwardly in the second motion phase about its pivotal connection with the rear guide link, and the forward portion of the seat rising relative to the support frame and carrying the front guide link upwardly to lift the carrier member off said stop member.

5. A reclining chair according to claim 4 in which said carrier member pivots upwardly about its pivotal mount on the support frame during said second motion phase, the carrier member moving into a substantially axially aligned position with the front guide link in the fully-tilted position of the body-supporting unit.

6. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support frame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, means mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame for movement through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and then through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a fully-tilted position, said mounting means including a carrier member pivotally mounted at its forward end on the support frame, said carrier member extending rearwardly from its pivotal mount in the upright sitting position of said chair and resting immovably upon a fixed portion of the support frame, a front guide link connected at its upper end to the forward portion of said seat and at its lower end to the rear end portion of the carrier member, a rear guide member connected at its upper end to the rear end portion of the bodysupporting unit and pivotally mounted at its lower end on the support frame, and stop means on the support frame positioned to engage the rear guide member in the intermediate tilted position, a leg-rest, means mounting the leg-rest on the forward end of the seat for movement between a retracted position beneath the seat and an extended position forwardly of the seat, and leg-rest control means for actuating said leg-rest, said leg-rest control means comprising a control link connected at one end to said leg-rest mounting means, and connected at its other end to said carrier member.

7. A multiple position reclining chair comprising a support flame, a body-supporting unit including a seat and back-rest formed rigidly with each other, means mounting the body-supporting unit on the support frame for movement through a first motion phase from an upright sitting position to an intermediate tilted position and then through a second motion phase from said intermediate tilted position to a fully-tilted position, said mounting means including a carrier member pivotally mounted at its forward end on the support frame, said carrier member extending rearwardly from its pivotal mount in the upright sitting position of said chair and resting immovablylupon a fixed portion of the support frame, a front guide link connected at its upper end to the forward portion of said seat and at its lower end to the rear end portion of the carrier member, a rear guide link connected at its upper end to the rear end portion of the body-supporting unit and pivota-lly mounted at its lower end on the support frame and stop means on the support frame positioned to engage the rear guide member in the intermediate tilted position, a leg-rest means mounting the leg-rest on the forward end of the seat for movement between a retracted position beneath the seat and an eX- tended position forwardly of the seat, and leg-rest control means for actuatingsaid leg-rest, said leg-rest control means comprising a control link connected at one'end to said leg-rest mounting means, and slide means connecting the other end of said control link to said carrier member.

8. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 7 in which said slide means comprises a pin-andslot connection between said control link and the carrier member.

9. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 7 in which said control link is restrained by the immovable carrier member during the first motion phase,

the leg-rest moving rearwardly with the said seatand being raised by said restrained control link to its extended position when the body-supporting means reaches its intermediate tilted position.

10. A multiple position reclining chair according to claim 9 in which said slide means comprises a longitudinal slot in said carrier member and a pin on said control link slidahly engaged with said slot, the pin being slidable in saidslot during said second motion phase to lower the leg-rest to a position in alignment with the forward end of the seat during the end portion of the second motionphase.

References Cited in the file of this pat ent UNITED STATES PATENTS r 2,918,109 Schliephacke Dec. 22, 1959 2,918,113 Lorenz Dec. 22, 1959 2,936,819 Dubeck May 17, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 541,473 Italy Apr. 3, 1956 

